Begonia plant named `Mandy Franje`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named &#39;Mandy Franje&#39;, characterized by its attractive dark pink semi- to fully double flowers that are fringed and about 7 cm in diameter; resistance to Powdery Mildew under commercial greenhouse conditions; and excellent postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known as Elatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Mandy Franje`.

The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in a controlled environment in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, in 1996, as a naturally-occurring mutation of the Elatior Begonia cultivar `Netja Franje` (U.S. Plant No. 10,506). The new cultivar was observed as a single plant in a group of 13-cm flowering plants of the parent cultivar. The selection of this plant was based on its darker pink flower color compared to the flower color of the parent cultivar. A detailed comparison of plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar `Netja Franje` appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The cultivar `Mandy Franje` has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `Mandy Franje`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `Mandy Franje` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Attractive dark pink semi-double to double flowers that are fringed and about 7 cm in diameter.

2. Resistance to Powdery Mildew under commercial greenhouse conditions.

3. Excellent postproduction longevity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of `Mandy Franje`. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may differ from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, that were flowered in June/July under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Average day temperatures were 20° C. and average night temperatures were 18° C. The maximum light level was 18,000 lux. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for six typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar `Mandy Franje`.

Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring mutation of Begonia×hiemalis cultivar `Netja Franje` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,506).

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to rooting.--About 14 days with soil temperatures of 23° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Upright and rounded potted plant, freely branching with good stem and stem base strength. Flowers are semi- to fully double and abundant. Plant flowers continuously.

Growth habit.--Moderate growth rate and moderately vigorous. Suitable for 13-cm containers. Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually 10 weeks are required to produce proportional 13-cm potted plants from terminal cuttings. Vegetative shoots are formed at basal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at upper nodes.

Plant height.--About 30 cm.

Plant width.--About 25 cm.

Leaves.--Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length: About 15 cm. Width: About 11 cm. Shape: Asymmetrically oval. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate, overlapping. Margin: Slightly doubly serrate. Texture: Smooth, leathery, shiny. Color: Young foliage: Upper surface: 137B. Lower surface: 138B with red tones. Fully expanded foliage: Upper surface: 139A. Lower surface: 138B with red tones.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.--Semi- to fully double flowers arranged in axillary cymes. Many cymes in flower simultaneously. Flowering continuous.

Natural flowering season.--Plants will flower year around regardless of daylength, however plants will flower earlier and more abundantly if daylength is 12 hours or less. Usually plants start flowering after about 7 weeks of start of short day/long night treatments.

Flowers.--Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.

.Tepals.--Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Mostly flat, rounded with fringed margin. Quantity per flower: About 20 per flower. Color: When opening: Upper surface: 42D. Lower surface: 42D. Fully opened: Upper surface: 41B to 47C. Lower surface: 50D at base with dark pink, 42D, at the margins. Texture: Smooth, velvety, glabrous.

Sepals.--Arrangement: Two, opposite. Color: 144B.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: None. Pistils: None.

Postproduction longevity:

Individual flowers.--Generally 2 to 3 weeks.

Whole plants.--About 6 weeks under interior conditions.

Disease resistance: Plants of the cultivar `Mandy Franje` are resistant to Powdery Mildew under greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed as reproductive organs are not formed.

    ______________________________________     CHART A                    `MANLY     CHARACTERISTIC FRANJE`     `NETJA FRANJE`     ______________________________________     FLOWER FORM    Semi- to fully                                Fully double                    double     FLOWER DIAMETER                    About 7 cm  About 6 cm     TEPAL COLOR, WHEN                    42D         49A     OPENING, UPPER     SURFACE     TEPAL COLOR, FULLY                    41B to 47C  52C/52D     OPENED, UPPER     SURFACE     TEPAL COLOR, FULLY                    50D at base, 42D                                50B     OPENED, LOWER  at margins     SURFACE     ______________________________________ 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named `Mandy Franje`, as illustrated and described. 